Celebrities have come in support of four female actors facing a vilification campaign from social media trolls after a former military officer hurled serious allegations against them, claiming they were “used as honey-traps” for high-ranking officials at safe houses that were bugged.

Major Adil Raja retired had shared four initials in his vlog on New Year’s eve that centred on the former army and ISI chiefs. He claimed the initials he shared were of the names of actresses and female models, who were purportedly used as honey-trap and blackmailed by the agencies.

Kubra Khan, Mehwish Hayat, and Sajal Ali believe Raja’s allegations were directed at them. They have vowed to sue him in court in the United Kingdom where the former major is living in self-imposed exile.

‘Graceless politics’

Celebrities have taken to social media to support the actors.

“Same 90’s filthy and graceless politics is back, throwing fake nudes to accusing someone falsely, we haven’t learned anything!” actor Muneeb Butt said in a tweet.

The Koi Chaand Rakh actor strongly protested and condemned the allegations made by Raja.

“We actors are not vulnerable, we stand firm with our female colleagues,” he added as many social media users continue to troll the actors.

‘Villanization of women’

Fashion designer Maheen Khan also condemned the “villainization” of women and stressed the need for holding the media accountable.

“This recent attack on actors is after all nothing but thinly disguised misogyny,” said the designer who dressed Catherine, Princess of Wales during her visit to Pakistan in October 2019.

She called for respecting their achievements just as one would like to do to theirs.

Misogyny, patriarchal mindset

Mirza Gohar, who is riding on the success of The Legend of Maula Jatt, slammed the former soldier in a Twitter thread for “insinuating a negative speculation” by giving out the reputed female actors’ initials after which all kinds of false assumptions were apparently being.

Kubra Khan, one of the actors associated with the claims in the vlog, was the first to threaten Raja with a defamation suit in the United Kingdom if he did not substantiate his claims within three days.

The former soldier has said he was looking forward to it while clarifying that there were numerous names of models, actresses, and celebrities in Pakistan and abroad, with the initials that he had mentioned.

“First he enjoys the attention setting up a great example of misogyny and patriarchal mindset and when these girls take a stand for themselves, start defending themselves he starts back-tracking saying ‘Oh Mainey to kabhie aapka nam liya he nahie’ Aina tu chunna kaka. A.R baby pehlay kiyu naa booli this man is classic example of what not to follow in 2023 P.S. “A.R” can also stand for ‘appu raja’ bajay gaa tera baja,” Gohar said.

‘Most cowardly thing to do’

Actor Mansha Pasha was of the view that women even at the top of their game were considered easy prey by small men.

“It is literally the last refuge of the desperate and is the most cowardly thing one can do,” she said in a tweet.

‘More power to you’

Writer Mira Sethi threw her weight behind the Pakistani actresses while putting an Instagram story.

“Proud of Pakistani actresses for pushing back against the filth and propaganda being thrown their way. More power to you.”